Joby Aviation Achieves Historic Autonomous Cross-Country Flight
In a groundbreaking accomplishment for general aviation and autonomous technology, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) has triumphantly completed the first fully autonomous flight across the United States, traversing an impressive 3,199 miles without any control input from the onboard safety pilot.
The retrofitted Cessna Caravan, outfitted with Joby’s proprietary autonomy technology — initially procured from Xwing in 2024 — embarked from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, California. The journey included stops in Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, before landing at Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The aircraft autonomously managed taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation, and landings throughout the voyage, under remote supervision from locations up to 2,323 miles away.
The system adeptly navigated real-world challenges such as high-density traffic at Phoenix Deer Valley — one of the busiest general aviation airports in the US — and rerouted around live thunderstorms in real time. This flight is a key component of Joby’s wider 2026 Electric Skies tour.
“This journey across America offers a glimpse into a new era of aviation,” stated JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, underscoring potential applications in disaster relief, military logistics, and remote community connectivity.
Source: Joby Aviation Official Press Release